Karuna* grew up watching people she loved go without medical care.
In her community, poverty and caste-based discrimination meant that when someone became sick, they were often left untreated. When medicine was available, it was often expired.
Those experiences stayed with her and shaped a dream of becoming a doctor so she could care for people like her family with compassion and dignity.
But first, she needed safety.
A Place to Heal and Grow
Karuna came to one of Venture’s safe homes—a place of refuge for girls vulnerable to trafficking and those rescued from it. What she found there was more than protection.
She lived among girls with similar stories, many from extreme poverty and low-caste backgrounds, some rescued from trafficking, others at risk like her.
Together, they pursued their education and began a journey of healing. Through counseling, care, and the hope of the Gospel, many started to recover from wounds they had carried for years. Hearts began to open, and slowly, things began to change.
A New Identity
One day, 31 girls at the safe house chose to be baptized together.
For them, it was more than a moment; it was a turning point. They embraced a new identity as beloved daughters and found the confidence to face the challenges ahead.
Not all of their families approved, and for some, that tension was painful. But the girls continued to respond with love, living out what they had come to believe. Over time, many families began to accept their decisions.
And with that, a deeper vision began to take shape. These girls didn't just dream of careers; they dreamed of returning to their communities to serve and share the hope they had received.
Changing What’s Possible
In May 2025, 36 girls graduated from the program. Among them was Karuna.
She completed her science program with outstanding results, passed her MBBS entrance exam, and is now studying medicine at a university, preparing for the day she can return and care for people who once had no access to treatment.
She is not alone. Many of the girls she lived with are continuing their education, stepping into careers, or starting small businesses. As they return to their communities, they are quietly breaking long-held stereotypes and inspiring others about what is possible.
“I want the world to know,” Karuna says. “One Dalit girl can do many things.”
Inseparable
At the safe home, Karuna didn’t just receive an education and safety. She discovered who God made her to be.
She is becoming a doctor.
She is rooted in faith.
And she is preparing to return and serve the people who were once forgotten.
This is what it looks like to fight injustice and make the Gospel known, and why the two are inseparably woven together.
Your gift always supports both.
(*her name is changed to protect her privacy)
